I’M CONVINCED

Seriously. Maria Genero has totally won my heart over…

…for Henrik Tallinder. (Don’t even get me started on Genero. I’ve said it before, I want her job, and I’d stop at nothing short of lumping her up to get it. That is, if I weren’t afraid of the ensuing arrest.)

Really, though, I’ve always liked Hank and thought he was a decent enough defenseman. And it didn’t hurt that during practices or whatever he always, always is smiling, and you can often her him shouting in celebration or just because they’re having fun. And that’s what I want from the Sabres. I want them to play well, but I want them to have fun.

Everyone knows that when you’re having fun and you’re getting satisfaction from your job or task at hand, than you’ll perform better while doing it. So if the Sabres are having fun, then they’ll most likely be playing a hell of a lot better than we’ve seen out of them this season.

Anyways, I just thought it was adorable during the Sabres Show, when Henrik was talking about sledding with this wife Ann(e) and their children Nathan and Amelie. He smiled and went all cute and sentimental on us when he said he loves to hear the kids giggle.

Come on, now. Big collective AWWW. =]

But that’s only the first part of my conviction.

The rest has to do with the long-term injuries suffered by Teppo Numminen (fractured jaw) and Andrej Sekera (ankle).

I’ve been saying it for weeks: The Sabres somehow needed to devise a defensemen rotation of sorts. Yes, before you even say it, I know it would screw up the pairings and the chemistry, blah blah blah, but we all know that our defense corps tend to break down and fall apart (i.e. every single one gets hurt) from the middle of the season, down through the stretch, and into the playoffs.

(I honestly believe that, had Jay McKee not contracted a ridiculous staph infection in his leg, due to a laceration from his pads, we would have a Stanley Cup banner in the rafters at the HSBC Arena.)

But now Chris Butler is really going to know what it’s like to be a regular NHL player. Teppo Numminen is not going to be there to show him the ropes now, and he’s going to have to step up even more than he has already to carry this team. Yes, I said carry this team. Out of the six defensemen that are going to be dressing now, I believe that Butler is the most consistent and most reliable. At least he has been since he was called up before Christmas.

And Nathan Paetsch?

I’ve been saying all along that Lindy Ruff needs to change the ways he deals with his seventh defenseman and his back-up goalies. If they have one bad game, they never again see playing time. You can’t expect a guy who sits about 10 games or more to come back to the lineup and play better than your starter(s). It just won’t happen. They either have to be played more often, or given a string of two, maybe three, games, depending on who it is (i.e. position).

Lindy did it last year with Thibault, and he’s doing it this year with Lalime.

The sad thing is, this thinking and method has seeped it’s way up to the press box, which has become much like a prison for Paetsch, I’m sure.

No matter how many bag skates this guy does, no matter how many extra minutes he logs with James Patrick, no matter how many times he hits the stationary bikes, he is not going to be used to game-play. It just won’t happen.

I can only hope that Nathan has a good game tonight. Well, actually, whether he does or not is slightly irrelevant, because no one is going to be getting a flight from Portland to Buffalo any time soon. Not a defenseman, at least. Mike Weber has been injured for some time now, and Mike Funk is recuperating in his hometown of Abbotsford, BC while he recovers from his second concussion since training camp of this year. (The first was suffered during camp, I believe the opening day. He returned from that on November 7, 2008, which just so happened to be the night I was there. The second concussion was suffered from a vicious hit from behind into the boards (which I still can’t find video of), mid-December. Funk has only played in 13 of Portland’s 37 games.) Out of the other d-men there, only two have seen any time up in Buffalo (Mike Card and Marc-Andre Gragnani, the latter used to play as a winger).

So like I said, hopefully Paetsch will have been worked in practice hard enough to be near game speed. I really hope he does well, because I’d hate to see him go. And the likely scenario is that he will if he doesn’t play well.

Die By The Blade has already furthered the trade rumor that could be bringing in veteran Mathieu Schneider to bolster the blue line in exchange for the mostly unwanted Maxim Afinogenov.

Could something along these lines happen? It will be interesting to see which rumors turn out to be actual moves once the trade deadline passes. But if this one does go through, the Sabres will be in a rut as far as bodies go. We’ve got too many defensemen, but most of them are very young. I’m anxious to see what Darcy and the management will do, come February and March.

Anyways, Go Sabres! (And Derek? Remember what I said about no friends on the ice. You shouldn’t even be friends with Greg Campbell off the ice, so definitely no niceties on the ice.)

Oh, and I just feel the need to tell you that Thomas Vanek giggles like a girl, and he and Drew Stafford stuck Butler with the bill at Chef’s on Saturday. He laughed it off when asked about it, but still. Way to treat the rookies like that.

OH, LIFE.

So Saturday night was pretty much awesome.. That is, until about 2 am, at which point Lucas and Jay decided to argue about which anatomical area on the male body fosters more bacteria: The groin, or the hands. And then they were arguing about when they should wash their hands–before or after they use the bathroom. WAY TO KILL A FABULOUS MOOD. They pretty much ruined the party. Oh well.

And then, I was planning on driving home, but since, in that particular area of Amherst we were in, you couldn’t see out the front window of their house, I spent the night at Britt’s, since she lives two minutes from there, and myself 15.

So yesterday morning, I found myself comfy in B’s bed, trying to post from my phone. Alas, since Verizon has what I am sure is the worst mobile internet around, I had written my entire post, and THEN IT WOULDN’T LET ME. And I was too frustrated and tired and hung-over to write it again once I had come home.

But anyways, it mostly consisted of something like this (I’m going purely from memory, here, kids. Bear with me.):

WTF, SABRES. WTF.

See, now, I’m think I’m an extremely devoted person, when I want to be. So when I take the time to be devoted to a flailing hockey team, YOU TAKE IT.

I almost abandoned you, though. See, my 16-year-old cousin Trevor plays hockey for his high school. I almost took up cheering for his team full time instead of you, Sabres. Because his team is actually good. And he’s my cousin, so I have to like his hockey team. But Sabres? You’re making me want to like his team.

THAT IS, UNTIL I DECIDED TO BREAK UP WITH PRINCESS D, AND NOT PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO YOUR GAME, AND INSTEAD GET DRUNK. THEN YOU DECIDE TO WIN.

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

But I’m glad you won. And I’m glad Derek scored. We’re broken up until further notice. But just so you know, D, I want you back.

Just to prove that we do, in fact, belong together: At the party we were playing Fuck the Dealer. Now, the first deck of cards that Tom grabbed from somewhere in the house was a deck Luke had received when he went to Aces and Blades a couple years ago. I had never played this game before, so when my turn came around, I had no strategy, or anything. I just picked a number–8–and who was on that card, a winning card, mind you? DEREK ROY. FATE-TASTIC, FOR REALS.

But anyways, I don’t really have much to say in the way of hockey. Nothing’s really happened.

Oh… Wait. My Pirates.

So I’m sad that Marky Mark’s stay in Buffalo has ended. Lindy really didn’t utilize him correctly, but whatever. Moving on. GERBE DERBY!!! AHHHHHHHH. Enough said.

And my poor Mikey Funk… Remember how he had a concussion during camp, that he suffered on, like, the first day? Yeah, well when Kim and I were up in Portland for a game, it just so happened to be my love’s first game back from the head injury. So Saturday night, who gets absolutely obliterated from behind into the boards? MIKE FUNK. Who has another concussion as a result? MIKE FUNK.

I’M SERIOUSLY GOING TO KILL ANSSI SALMELA IF I EVER SEE HIM ON THE STREETS. UGH.

I swear to God, if he becomes the next Tim Connolly/Brett Lindros/Pat LaFontaine in regards to bruised brains, I’LL SERIOUSLY CRY, because I love him.

Okay then. Now that I got that out of my system… I baked cookies last night for a friend, and then I made some special ones for Kim and myself, for our little soiree this evening.

If I could send cookies (the edible kind) through the internet, I’d have a big platter full of them for you all. But, since I can’t do that, here’s something sweet instead:

BACKGROUND INFO IS NECESSARY, THOUGH. Remember that picture that caused quite a ruckus in these parts recently?? Well, remember how we thought that it was one Clarke MacArthur that was grabbing the junk of one Derek Roy??

WELL IT WASN’T THE GENERAL, AND I HAVE THE PROOF.

Here’s a snipet of the picture in question:

Notice the man on the left–supposedly Clarke MacArthur. Notice the writing on D’s shirt. Also, notice the man to the right’s striped green shirt.

Now take a look at this picture, which I got off of another Facebook account:

HMMM… RECOGNIZE ANYONE??

The guy in the green Fox track jacket and the green Von Dutch hat would be D’s younger brother, Scott. Hmm, that other green shirt looks awfully familiar, doesn’t it? And the guy next to Derek–supposedly Sparky–doesn’t appear to look like Sparky at all, actually.

So there you have it, folks. Derek’s sexuality status is still in limbo, but as far as I’m concerned, the second coming of the Man-Child is straight, and as innocent as can be.

LET’S GO BUFFALO!!!

NOW WHAT?

Yeah, so I’m sure you all know what’s going on with a certain picture of a certain Derek Roy… But I’m not even going to say I’m sorry for the spread of that picture. You know why? First of all, it’s his own damn fault, secondly, I did nothing wrong, and thirdly, it was with good intentions the most harmless of intentions possible.

So, Derek, just be glad we took the picture down, although it can be found elsewhere, now, from what I’ve seen…

Oh well. Next time, don’t let your friends violate you in public, let someone else photograph it, and the let them put it on Facebook, where anyone can see it. Namely, me. Because you know I’m giving it to MJ.

Anyways, back to legit hockey blogging.

Toni Lydman is doubtful for tonight, as is Craig Rivet, apparently. So who would get the logical promotion from Portland? Mike Weber, obviously. But I guess he’s been iffy, as far as health is concerned, so then who?

(Lindy doesn’t seem too, too concerned about those issues, but still…)

Marc-Andre Gragnani, in 20 games, has 1 goal and 10 assists; also, he’s a -1 with 16 penalty minutes.

Mike Kostka has 2 goals and 6 assists, also in 20 games, with 6 PIM, and he’s a +8.

Chris Butler’s points and games are the same as Kostka’s, but he is a +2 with 14 penalty minutes.

My Mikey-Poo, Mr. Funk, has been limited to 11 games due to a concussion he suffered the opening day of training camp. But, in those 11 games, he’s netted just 1 goal and 3 assists. He’s racked up 8 penalty minutes and is a +3.

Paul Baier, whom I’m not sure we have rights to?, has 3 points (1-2) in 18 games, with a -2 and 12 PIM.

Weber has played 19 games, has only 2 assists to put towards his point total, and is a +5 with 51 PIM.

Mike Card has been limited to 13 games, most recently due to taking a puck off of his gorgeous face (please don’t need plastic surgery). He’s only got 1 assist, so far, on the year, and is an even 0 on +/-, with 16 penalty minutes.

I’m making my choice with the assumption that Weber is unavailable, fyi…

So, based purely on statistics, I’d probably want to call up Gragnani or Kostka. Based on playing style, comparable to Lydman, I’d probably go with Funk, because when I’ve seen him play in person, he’s physical on the puck, and he can skate. Based solely on the fact that I adore him, I’d call Funker, as well.

But I’m kind of mad at him because he still hasn’t accepted my friendship on Facebook… Then again, neither have Mancari or Dylan Hunter, so idk… What’s with these Portland boys? Don’t they check their Facebook 1,978,234,986 times a day like I do?? Well, at least Gerbe Derby does…

Anyways, I’ve come to the conclusion that blogging purely on the game is kind of boring. I like being ridiculous way, way, way too much.

SO.

I’m throwing this out there:

UMMMM WHAT??

Tommy, what the hell were you thinking when this picture was taken?? I’m not even going to talk about that RIDICULOUS hat.

Um, and what are you doing in that area of Buffalo???

Hmm, well, Shelby, that’s for you.

But anyways, the Panthers? Stephen Weiss? Gregory Campbell? Not too intimidated. But Derek, seriously, forget that your friends with the later. Please. No nice guys tonight.

So I guess I’ll miss probably half of the game. I’ve decided that if they’re winning, maybe I won’t watch the rest of it?? Because, I don’t know, maybe it’s me. I kind of take it personally when the Sabres are sucking, and get all bummed and mope around the house… I swear, if I slit my wrists, I’d covered in blue and gold goo. So maybe I won’t watch/listen, just to see if that works… But I don’t know if I can hold out like that. I’ve never intentionally ignored a game…

We’ll see. Go Sabes!

Adventures in Portland

So, as we sit in the comfy queen bed in my aunt’s second master bedroom, looking into the dreary, wet nature preserve that is her backyard, we are going to tell you every ridiculous story we have from the Pirates game last night.

(1) I freaked out because Mike Funk took to the ice for the first time this season.

(2) We swear some of the players (coughcough Mark Mancari) recognized us.  Not a stretch because we did go to, like, five Amerks games last year, and we did go to a bunch of preseason practices, and of course sat right behind the bench for all of them.  So he was probably thinking, “Oh, God, not those girls again.”  Whatever, though.

(3) Colton Fretter literally had to dive into the Pirates bench to avoid being assessed a too many men penalty.  He landed face down on the floor, but I think the heart attack he gave Tim Kennedy, who was sitting right there, was worse than any bumps he may have sustained.  Kim laughed about this all night.  No lie.

(4) Speaking of Tim Kennedy, we decided to come up with a new nickname for him.  Since using “The Little One” could be interchangeable between he and Nathan Gerbe, I somehow, for some reason, came up with “Shirley Temple.”  So, from now on, in SC, TK will be Shirley Temple.  And since e did score the game winner in the shoot out, props to dear Shirley.

(5) At first, I was going to title this post “The Gerbe Derby got rained out,” because, as you probably know, he was held pointless, thus ending his streak.  Sad.  But watching that little maniac one the ice is insane!  He’s so darn fast and smart, it’s incredible.  When they say he’ll be in Buffalo in no time, they’re not far off the mark at all.  He did almost die at one time when two Falcons players sandwiched him, and he fell to the ice, and one of them almost stepped on him.  Yikes…  But we did get some interesting pictures of him…

Apparently Mancari has Mair’s job in Porland.

He’s protecting the Gerbe Derby.

But look how ridiculous they look next to each other…  =]

Can you see Gerbe?  Because I can’t…

Actually, look just above the trainer’s head and you’ll see Nate’s.

(6) Mark Mancari scored a nifty little power play goal, deking around the net and putting a Nathan Gerbe pass above the goalie’s shoulder.

(7) I love going to games in Portland so much more than games in Rochester for the following reasons:  they pack the house (as opposed to a peppering of fans); despite being 556 miles away from Buffalo, there was a smattering of Sabres apparel in the crowd, including a Drew Stafford jersey (which I thought was a little ironic, because it was the only jersey worn that I saw); their fans know that a goal for the home team means they stand up and scream and act like idiots (in Rochester, they just sat and clapped, and failed to inform us of this, and when we stood up and cheered we got weird looks); THE TEAM ACTUALLY WINS GAMES; the players seem almost jovial at times at the bench, other than downright depressing in Rochester; the crowd cheers when they show the Sabres’ score on the Jumbotron and we’re winning.  There are more, I just can’t think of them.

(8) Speaking of actually winning games, which Rochester didn’t really know much about, when we would go there, the Amerks never won.  So, at some point, before the commencement of overtime last night, I said something along the lines of “we better win because I don’t want to have driven this far to see them lose.”  At that point, I realized what I had just said, so I needed some wood to knock on.  Well, seeing as the floor is concrete, and the seats are plastic, the closet thing to wood I could find would have been Kim’s head.  So I knocked on that.  (Oh, it’s detrimental to the story to know that we were sitting a couple rows behind Springfield’s bench.)  Well, apparently #4 for the Falcons, Taylor Chorney (whom we affectionately renamed Corny), saw, and laughed.  I love amusing the hockey players.  It makes it all worth while to know that they think we’re funny.

(9) Along those lines, more laughing by the Falcons at us ensued when the person in charge of the music decided to play Sweet Caroline.  Anyone who’s anyone knows you have to sing along to this song, and, apparently it’s funny, because this time #18, Colin McDonald, had a laugh.  But he was laughing because Kim decided to reach out, and put her hand on my shoulder as Neil Diamond instructed her to, and somehow that was funny.  I don’t know…

(10) And, yet again, they had another laugh, when that song they always play at sporting events came on.  You know the one I’m talking about (“Twilight Zone,” by Underground Spell, if you really don’t know).  But anyways, we “woo”-ed when you’re supposed to, and apparently #25 Derek Bekar and their equipment guy thought this was cute because they laughed too.  Apparently we’re just cute, funny girls.  But you’d think they’d take the hint from the Pirates shirts we were wearing.

(11) There was an older guy sitting right behind us, and his friend, or someone he talks too often enough, was sitting in the row in front of us across the aisle, and they were talking about the Sabres at one point.  The old guy said, “I don’t know them well enough to talk about them yet, really.”  And if they had kept talking about the Sabres, I would’ve turned around and said, “I’m from Buffalo.  What do you want to know?” just because I could have.

(12) There was a scrum in front of the Springfield bench during the second period, I believe, and someone went after Funk.  BAD IDEA.  Wanna know why?  Because you’ll have 215 pounds of this on your ass.  And you did.  Idiot.  And, while skating away, Mark flipped you off.  Yeah, that’s right.  He doesn’t have to use words.  He’s just too damn intimidating.

(13) Jimmy Bonneau also got in a scuff in the Pirates’ corner at one point, and we kind of told Jimmy what to do.  Although, I’m not quite sure “use your words, and your inside voice, remember your manners, and say hello to his mother” were quite what he wanted to hear.

There were more ridiculous stories and happenings, but I think that’s enough for now.  There’s a few more pictures from last night, and there will be plenty more from the Sabres/Bruins game!!!!!!!

So, we’re off to shop some more, and maybe (probably) go by the Ritz to see if Paul, Derek, Ryan, or Craig are hanging around.  But don’t worry, I’ll link up all the pictures Monday morning.  I don’t have the time, the patience, or the battery life to do that now.  Sorry!!

But Go Sabres!!

Connolly?? 100%??!! Yeah, right.

I’ll be quick about this, because I only have 5 minutes left in my dinner break, but if you book it on over to Sabres Edge and read this fantastic little entry, you’ll probably agree with me.

As disappointed as I am to not see Timmmaaay in action personally or on television this preseason, I’m pretty disappointed that he’s not going to play until Friday, when I STILL CAN’T GO, because stupid Kim (I love you!!) won’t be in Buffalo.  So I have to stay home and watch with my father because no one else that appreciates hockey enough to go with me will be around.

So anyways, I kind of find it hard to believe that TC will be anywheres near 100%, and I don’t care what Lindy says about it.

And to answer your question, Mike, yes I do believe Tim makes the Sabres better.  But honestly, the question should be how long will Timmy be able to help the Sabres to be better?

ON ANOTHER NOTE, I was at the Galleria Mall with some friends today, and totally saw the gorgeous Michael Funk go into Metro Park.  At first I didn’t recognize him because he was wearing a hat which covered his white spot, but then I saw his pale blue Marty Biron-esque eyes and knew instantly.  My question, though, is why isn’t he on his way to Portland??

Game tomorrow!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!